GenQ - For the not so straight individual

Being a fan of Tegan and Sara (T&S), I have loved their past concerts, you tube videos, past albums and of course their latest offering "The Con". I therefore had really high expectations about their concert at The Forum last Wednesday night. You only have to chat to some of the Tegan and Sara fans waiting in line to realise what an intense following they have. I met fans that follow Tegan and Sara all over the country when they tour, and have also seen them perform all over the world, and after being at a concert, its easy to see why.

Photo pass and ticket in hand I eagerly waited in the line (which went down the street and up the side of the Forum building) chatting with other excited fans about our favourite songs, which ones we hoped to hear and our favourite stories about them. Because T&S have so much footage of their concerts, video clips and side projects online, it’s easy for fans to get right inside the heart of the duo.



The Forum is a great venue for medium sized, intimate gigs. Containing an amazing roof of man-made night sky and higher backdrop of a castle, along with more intimate, lowered mood lighting, it creates a warm, open atmosphere. The dance floor area in front of the stage is extensive, but not so big that the booth section is miles from the action either.

Opening act Kaki King warmed the audience with a very unique style of guitar play, a very talented performance that was appreciated by the growing crowd. Finally a banner dropped, the lights dimmed and the girls were on stage doing what they do best. They began the concert performing a range of songs off their latest album, "The Con". The girls sounded fantastic, both playing guitars and mainly Tegan jumping on the keyboard for certain songs, with Sara lending a hand in that department every now and again.



The girls broke between groups of songs to chat to the audience and provide the banter they have become famous for, warming up the crowd with stories of their experiences in going from playing concerts in freezing temperatures, to coming to Australia where everyone is in the Christmas spirit and happy to be sunburnt. Whilst the set list largely contained tracks off "The Con", the girls also took us back to some of their older songs including "So Jealous", "Monday Monday Monday", "Where Does the Good Go", and "Take me anywhere".

At times, the applause was measured and Tegan and Sara remarked on seeing a sea of faces staring back at them blankly, concluding that we all must be in love with them. I think we were all so keen to hear what the girls had to say next, that we waited so patiently and quietly. Half way through the concert there was no stopping us however, and we clapped and cheered and whistled, the sound was quite deafening.



Highlights included the song “Call it off�, where Tegan encouraged us to sing along so she knew she wasn't alone. The crowd did so and it sounded amazing. Right before playing “Back In Your Head�, a fan favourite, the girls said that although they had only ever done this once at another concert, they thought we’d be the perfect crowd to pull it off. So they asked the entire room to turn around and face the back of the room and clap to a quick beat and sing along to the song. Everyone in the venue did this with occasional glances backwards to the stage it looked amazing!

The encore, to massive applause, consisted of “Walking With A Ghost�, “Umbrella� – a cover of the Rihanna song, which arguably is better then the original, “I Know I Know I Know� and of course the usual end to a Tegan and Sara concert, “Living Room�.



The Audience was fantastic and supportive, and we were definitely rewarded. The girls gave a lot of energy over the 90 minutes (despite both having diarrhea, thanks girls for the info!) and plenty of the usual banter ensured. Tegan and Sara are a real pocket dynamo that sound as great live as they are on their albums, and give added excitement, energy and entertainment that will blow you away.

For an interview with Tegan and Sara, conducted on GenQ, click here

For a review of their latest album, The Con, click here.



All photos taken by Amanda Hotchin.